How Health Systems Are Using RPM to Extend Cancer Care into Patient Homes

Ochsner, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Mount Sinai are leveraging remote patient monitoring to cut hospitalizations and improve outcomes among cancer patients, but hurdles like lack of payment models may hinder progress. Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, concerns regarding the sudden halt of in-person care grew. As hospitals swelled with novel coronavirus cases, many worried about chronic care needs not being met – especially among cancer patients. These concerns were not unfounded. A study published in late November 2020 showed that the pandemic significantly delayed identifying new cancers and treatment delivery. A more recent study reveals that gaps remain in preventive cancer screenings. But as in-person care restrictions proliferated, virtual care use grew. And though many providers were already leveraging virtual care strategies, like remote patient monitoring (RPM), the pandemic further spurred their use in the cancer care arena.